The Camden Council Planning Committee was scheduled to discuss a proposal for the change of use of Northumberland House from offices and retail to a hotel, and a temporary application for padel courts at the former Homebase site within the O2 Centre. Discussions also included a supplementary agenda with amendments to conditions and details regarding retail units for the Northumberland House application.

Northumberland House, High Holborn

The committee was scheduled to consider a proposal for the change of use of 303-306 Northumberland House, High Holborn, London WC1V 7JZ, from office and retail (Class E) to a hotel (Class C1). The plans included the replacement of windows, alterations to shopfronts, the removal of an external escape stair, the addition of blue/green roofs, and changes at roof level including photovoltaic panels and a lift overrun. A generator was also proposed at lower ground floor level.

The report pack indicated that the proposal would result in the loss of office and retail space. However, it highlighted that the building had been largely vacant for an extended period, with over two years of marketing evidence demonstrating a lack of demand for office use. The loss of retail units was also deemed acceptable due to their current vacancy and lack of demand, with the proposal including a publicly accessible restaurant/bar at ground floor level to maintain an active frontage.

The report detailed extensive policy considerations, including national and regional planning frameworks such as the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 and the London Plan 2021. Local policies from the Camden Local Plan 2017 were also relevant, particularly those concerning land use, design, heritage, transport, sustainability, and amenity.

The proposal was recommended for conditional planning permission subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement. This agreement was intended to secure various contributions and obligations, including those related to energy and sustainability, transport improvements, employment and training opportunities, and public access.

A supplementary agenda introduced amendments to the report, including a reduction in the number of wheelchair-accessible rooms from 11 to 10, and clarifications regarding the occupancy of one of the retail units. It also corrected the calculation for the contribution amount related to the loss of employment space.

Former Homebase Store, O2 Centre, Finchley Road

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a temporary application for the installation of 10 padel courts and associated facilities at the former Homebase store site within the O2 Centre, 255 Finchley Road, London NW3 6LU. This proposal was for a meanwhile use for a period of up to five years, pending the delivery of the approved O2 Masterplan redevelopment.

The plans included the erection of an all-weather canopy structure, a clubhouse, a sauna building, and golf pods. The development was intended to be Class F2 (outdoor leisure use) and would provide accessible car parking and cycle parking.

The report highlighted that leisure and sport facilities are recognised as important for community well-being and that increasing their provision in accessible areas aligns with development plan objectives. The temporary nature of the use was considered acceptable as it would activate an underutilised site without prejudicing the long-term redevelopment of the O2 Masterplan. A break clause in the agreement with the developer, Landsec, was noted as a mechanism to ensure the site could be made available for redevelopment when required.

The proposal was recommended for conditional planning permission, subject to a Section 106 Legal Agreement. This agreement would cover obligations related to a Travel Plan, construction management, micromobility improvements, car-free development, and a Community Use Plan.

The report also detailed considerations regarding noise, light pollution, design, heritage, transport, energy, water and flooding, trees, greening, biodiversity, fire safety, waste, and contaminated land. The temporary nature of the structures and the limited construction costs meant that specific employment and training opportunities were not considered feasible for a Section 106 agreement, although local recruitment was encouraged.